Device for synchronizing the speed of a vehicle with the steering mechanism thereof



EGGEN 1.902526 ING THE SPEED OF A VEHICLE NG MEC uly 6,

March 21 1933.

O. E. SYNCHRONIZ HE HANISM THEREOF 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DEVICE FOR WITH T 6 mm MM 2 WW 6 7 t 2 MW e y j/ 0 h 4 @691 m m 6 0 6 I e r H h a E S v w AW 0 mm WM S 1 EW% c mmmw H G 1 Emma Qmmm Y W \\\\\\fl\\\ 1 E Q A m E R H I/ T I W DEVICE FOR SYNC March 21, 1933.

Patented Mar. 21, 1933 OSCAR E. EGGEN, or CHARLES CITY,'IOWA, ASSIGNOR To OLIVER FARM V COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DEVICE FOR svnonnomzme rrnn SPEED OF A VEHICLE WITH MECHANISM THEREOF Application filed July 6,. 1931. 'SeriaI No. 548;754.

The present invention is directed generally to motor propelled vehicles and more particularly to a device for synchronizing the. speed of the vehicle with the steering or turning of the same, so as to maintain or control the speed Ofthe vehicle at a uniform rate when making the turn in either direction. p

Heretofore, motor propelled vehicles and more particularly,those of the type known as tractors, which are used for drawing implements or crease their speed when turning at the end of a field because the traction wheel. on the inside of the turn remains substantially.

stationary while the. traction wheel on the Outside of the turn increases its speed substantially two-fold; due to the differential mechanism of the tractor construction. This is especially true ofthe agricultural type of tractor in which means aresometimes provided for synchronizing the steering mechanism with the braking mechanism of each individual traction wheel. In tractors of this last construction, the inside of the turn usually forms the pivot for the tractor and the outside traction wheel describes a circle about the inner traction :wheel as a center. This ohviouslyincreases the speed of the Outside traction wheel to twice'normal'speed or tractor, across the field, resulting not only in an excessive strain on the'implement being drawnby the tractor, but also on the draw bar and frame sometimes resulting in'a breaking or damaging of the implement or the tractor frame. 4 I

It is therefore one of the primary 7 objects of the'present invention to provide a noveland improved device which will automatically synchronize the speed of the trac tor with the steering mechanism so that the tractor will travel'at a uniform speed around the turn and thereby eliminate any. undue strain on the, tractor.

tractor. Y a

A further object of'the invention is to provide a novel-and improved device which 'will implement attachments, in-

the traction wheel on travel. of the line 55 in Fig. 2.

structure of the tractor and frame, structure or the implement drawn by or attachedeto the crating steering-arm p end of the arm 20 1s connected synchronize the speed of the tractor NIT'ED STATES 1 .'1".I-: 1- r OFFlCElyii- HE s-rnnniive the steering mechanism by operatively coni necting the ernor and Y to not only insure a uniform speed of the to effect an: of thetractor whenimaking the turn.

These and other objects are accomplished; I

K rangement of the various parts in the man-Q Fig. 1 is a fragmentary s de elevational View of a conventional the manner in which my improved device of synchronizing the speed the steering mechanism;

Fig.2 is an enlarged the manner inwhich Fig. 8 isa top plan view of shown in Fig. 4;

Fig.

t Par and 3 Y Fig. 5 1s a cross sectionalview taken on a In illustrating one conventional cated by the reference character. 10 whichv includes, a main-frame 11, rear traction wheels internal combustion engine generally indicated by the reference character l l an engine governor mechanism generally indicated 'by thereference' character .15 anda steering mechanism generally indicated by steering mechanism here showncompris es theusual P t, 3:,

the reference character. '16." The steering wheel 1'7 journaled 'n which in turn is secured to ajsteeringabracket 19. 'The ste'eringiwheel ,17 is connected with the usualmechanism for op 20. The lower orl free by me s of the tractor with p 4 is a deta led view of the cammin g. mechanism attached-to the steering arm;

front steering wheel or; wheels 13; an"

steering mechanism with the gov- 1 throttle valve ofthetractor-soas 55 tractor, but to also maintain suflicient power efficient and uniform operation I form of tractor haw, .mg portions thereof broken, away-showing I form ofmy invention," I have shown the same lnconnection withga.

formof tractor generallyindi i pe ati y 7 fragmentary .cross- :sectional and diagrammatic view showing the steeringmechanism i is operatively cOnnected-tothe governor;

I well known manner.

the usual steering rod connections 21 to the vertically extending steering standard or support 22 in any well known manner. J ournaled on the oppositesides of the vertical support 22 is the usual front steering oppobearings in thecasing24-is a governorshaft 25 which zis providedwith a gear 26 which in is adapted tomesh with suitable gears andxbe operatively driven by the crank shaft .of' the motorinamanner well understood in the art. shaft is connected in the usual manner to "an'impulse coupling, generally indicated by turn The. other end ofthe governor V the. reference character 27L Secured to the a which in turn issupportedon an anti-friction bearing generally indicated by, the re-fon' a-' pin 37 secured to' the l governor.

opposite sides thereof, ernor weights30 Thesegovernor weights are'providedwith laterally projecting camturn are adapted V I roller '54.

shaft 25' in any collar 28 which has pivotally secured on the as shown at29, govming portions 31 which in to engage a 'di'sh-shapedsleeve or collar 32 erence character 33. A portion-of this antifriction bearing 33-bears laterally against a flanged washer 34 looselymounted on the shaft 25. The rear'face ofthe washer 34 is adapted to engage projections formed on the opposites'ides of a governor lever 36. The lower end of the lever 36 is pivoted housing 24' of the The upper or arm 39: The

able connection 38 to a crankshaft 40 and crank arm 39 is securedto a extends across themotor'l4 to the. art.

is a conventional form of governor mechanism used in connection with tractor constructions which regulate or control the throttle valve of the carburetor in accord-' ance' with the speed of the motor so as to synchronize the speed of the": motor in conformity ,which is adapted, to

; ith; the conditions under which the tractor is operated: 1 V I The important feature of the present invention has to do with animproved device so that atthe end of the field when the-trac- Journaled in suitable axis of the stud V Journaled in a bearingsleeve 49-wh1ch 1n well known manner is a at 53 and has I s free end of the lever'3'6'i's connected'by means of an adjust the other side of the carburetor and operatively connects "the'fi'y valve 41 of the carburetor 23 to the governor, ina manner well understood in The mechanism thus ,faifdescribed The rear end face of the member 1 housing 68;

v synchronize the speed s of the tractor with the steering lIlQCl'lZLlllSIII 65" tor is turned, the speed at the turn will be 7 uniformly controlled so as to prevent any unusual strain on the tractor frame or implement drawn by or attached to the tractor.

The manner inwhichthis device operatlvely connects the steering'mechanism with the throttle valve and governor of the tracer tor will next be described.v

Secured to thersteering arm QO through I the medium of the steering'stud42 and-nut 43 is-thocam member 44. The'low'er end, of the cam member 44 is sitely disposed and laterally extending ears as shownat 45 which have mounted in threaded engagement therewith, set screws 46, the inner'ends of which are adapted to steering arm secur-ingthecam 44in its with respect to the steering; arm. Theupper or free'end portion of the contact the opposite sides of'the 20 for adjustably proper position cam 44 is rounded as shown at 47, while an intermediate portion as shown at48* is cir-' provided with oppocularand is arranged concentric with the turn is secured to the reartractorframe by means 'of"brackets 50 is acrank'shaft 51;;

One end of" the shaft 51' is providedwith a right 'angularlybent portionso as to form a crank 52, the freeend of which is bent paral+- portion 51 as shown lel to the main hearing journaled thereon, a grooved The roller 54 isadapted to contact with and rideon-t-he curvedportions 47 and 48'ofithe ca1n 44'. The-roller 54 is held-v in contact with the periphery of'the cam 44 by means, of an extension spring 55" whlch outer end portion 53 of the-crankshaft 5 1 and the other end" thereof has the upper end thereof connected to the cainmin member 44.- Secured to" the other end of the crank shaftl51= by means of. a

clamping bolt 57 is a vertically extending armor lever 58- to the free end'of'whichis secured, atransversely extending flat member 59. Thisiflat member 59' is provided with a vertical 'slot'as shown at 60in which is adjustably fol-man eye as shown at 62*wi'th the" end thereof folded back against the main body of the connection as shown at 63 so as to" form in effect a stop-64 againstthe rear sur- 59 as clearly shown'in Fig.32 of the drawings. The forward end of the connecting rod 61 is pivotally connect'ed as shown at 65, to,alever. 66, which in I i turn, is pivoted on a hinge 67 secured to' thev r The housing 68fcovers the cone nection 38, connecting the governor lever 36 to the valve or throttle of the carburetor. The lower endof angularly bent portionas shown at 69,

which is adapted toengage the forward? end connected by means of a pin" 56 to the inner end otthe mounted a connecting rod i6l l ofthe rod 61' is folded so as to.

the lever 6,6has a right- 42 of'thesteering ar-m 20. V

' that various size circlesmay 70 of the reciprocable pin 71. The reciprocable pin 71 is loosely mounted in an aperture 72 formed in the housing 24 of the governor. The rearward end of the recip-' rocable pin 71 is threadedand has mounted thereon, a nut 7 3. The forward end of the pin 71 is seated in acup' shaped washer 74 which in turn is seated in the rear end coils of a spring 75.

shaped washer member 76, which in turn is seated on rearwardly projecting stud 77 formed integrally with and adjacent the upper end of the governor lever 36.

The operation of my improved device for synchronizing the speed of the tractor with the steering mechanism so as, to control or regulate the speed of the tractor when makingja turn at-theend of a field, is as follows:

Let us assume that thetractor is in opera tion travelling across the field at the rate of three miles per hour, with the governor and other parts thereof operating under normal conditions.

When the operator or tractor reaches the end of the. field a turn of the steering mechanism is made to the right or to the left in which event the inside tra ction wheel may form the pivot and remain substantially stationary while the outside traction wheel increases its speed to six miles per hour, by reason of differential mechanism. it will be understood be described depending on the extent to which the front steering wheels of Of course,

7 the effectiveness of the braking mechanism if one is embodied in the tractor. The

mechanism herein described for controlling the speed of the tractor is preferably constructed so that when the front steering wheel is turned to the right or tothe left in excess of thirty degree angles, the mechanism for connecting the steering mechanism to the throttle valve governor of the tractor becomes effective to reduce the speed of the tractor, in accordance with the angle 3 of turn. In other words, when a short turn is made by the'tractor, that iswhere oneo the rear traction wheels becomesthe pivot, the synchronized mechanism becomes increasingly effective from the time the front wheels are turned at an angle ofthirty de-' grees from the longitudinal line of the center of the tractor until the front'steering wheels assume a position inwhich they are tangent to a ot wheel to the front-steering wheels. 'Obviously the steering arm 20 is swung forwardly or rearwardly for effecting a right or left hand turn of the gitudinal line passing through the center of i the tractor,the cam member 44 will be moved simultaneously therewith until the roller and member I The forward end of the spring is provided with a second cupthe tractor are turned and line extending from the piv- I tractor, and when the front steering wheels have reached a thirty. degree angle with respect to a lon-' This movement permits the arm 52 r .75; the governor is reduced by having the reciprocating pin 71 move rearwardly. The reduction ofthetension on I the governor spring 75 permits the. governor V weights 30 to actuate the lever 36 rearwardly and through the connection of this lever with the connecting J, rod 38 to the. throttle valve reduces the speed of- .the motor,

thereby permittingkthe speed-or control of i noted that'the I I the motor to be synchronized'with the steers ing mechanism.- It will be nut 73 is mounted in threaded engagement with the'reciprocating pin the tension on the governor; spring 7 5; This 7 ing 24 therewith-forms the normal operating tension of the' spring for the governor. In Fig. 4 the synchronizing mechanism is shown in the position itassumes when the tractor is travelling in a straight direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor.

' From the above description," it will: be

71 so-thatthe' nut may beadjustedY thereOn for regulating nut 73 also forms the stop against the 'housof thegovernor-and when in contact readily understood that I have provided a I simple, compact and efiicientjoperating; de-

vice in which the control or speed of the II a I V to reduce I tractor maybe regulated so as the speed-ofthe tractor when making. a

I anexcessive-stra'in on the tractor frame structure or the implements or attachments carried thereby. I

WhileQinthe above description I have described one embodimentwhich my invention I same is capable of modification and that modification'may be made" without departing-from the spirit and scope j ofthe invention as expressed j in the follow- 1 in claims.-

hat I clainris-"my to secure by Letters Patentis 1 v I 1. The combination with amotorvehicle, of an internal combustion; engine for propellingsaidvehicle, traction-elements operatively driven. by said engine, steering means "for 'steermgsaid vehicle, governor I for-controllingthe speed of said engine, and? I 'means forsynchronizingsaid" steermg 1 means with said, governor for controlling may assume in practice, it willof coursebe, f understood that the invention and desire theyspeed of said vehiclewhen makinga" turn; 2'. The combination with a; tractor havturn or turns at the end of' a field so as not ,to' place internal combustion enginemounted ther proportion to the angleof turn of'said steerend otsaid tractor ing an cinternal combustion enginelmounted thereon, oi? a; carburetor for supplying I f uel tosaid eng1ne,,a,governor for said engine,

traction, means for said, tractor operatively driven by saidengine, steering means for said; tractor, and means for synchronizing said steering, means with said carburetor through said=governor for controlling the speedpof saidtractorf'when making a'turn, I

The combination'wit-h aitractor having an internal combustion engine mounted thereon, a carburetor for supplying fuel to saidqengine, a governor operatively connected to said engine for controlling said carburetor, tractlon means driven by sa d engine,stering means for said tractor, and

means for; synchronizing said steering means with saidegovernor and carburetor for controlling the speed of said tractor when makingiaturn; i c

4; The combinationwith a tractor, of an on, traction elements for said tractor and operatiively' driven by said engine, steering azcarburetor for sup--.

means for said tractor,- plying :fuel tosa1d=eng1ne, a governor for controlling said; Carburetor and means -for' operatively, connecting said steering means with said carburetor through.said-governor for reducing the speed of S211Cl,

111g IDQ ans.

5: Thecombinationwithaltractor having M an internal combustion motor mounted thereon, of traction wheels located at one and operatively driven by said motoigjsteering wheels located at j means; including ing fuel to said engine, a governor opera an internal the other end of said tractor, carburetor for supplying fuel to said motor, a governor operatively connected to said motor for con: trolling said carburetor, andsa connection between the steering means andvsaid goverL- nor; formaintaining aunii'orin tractor when making a turn. I I

6; The combination with. a tractor'having an internal combustion engine mounted thereomtraction element-s locatediat one end of said'tractor and operatively driven-by said engine, steering means located at. the other end ofsaid tractor, said- "steering front, steering wheels and a movable steering ed together, a carburetor for supplytivelydriven by said engine and connected to, said, carburetor for controlling the supply of fuel to said engine, and a connection I between said steering arm and said governor formaintaining a constant speedof the tractor when; making a turn.

Y 7. The combination with a tractor having combustion engine I mounted thereon, traction elements located at one end of said tractor and voperatively driven; by'said engine,,steering means locateda t the engine in said'springior varying the l3I1SlOIL thereon speed of the:

arm operatively connect esa-sass nected together, a carburetor for supplying.

tuelto said engine, a, governor operatively driven by said engine and connected to said" carburetorfor controlling the supply of fuel to saidengine, a cam mounted on said steering arm, andoperative connections between said cam and said governor "for reducing the speed of said motor and main- I taining a constant speed of the tractor when making a turn. I 8. The combination with a tractor, of an internalcombustion motor mounted thereon, rear traction wheels for said tractor opera- I tively'driven by said motor, front' -steering wheels for said tractor, steering mechanism including a steering wheel and steering arm operatively connected with said front steering wheels, a carburetor for supplying fuel to said;v motor, a governor operatively connected to said motorand connectedto said carburetorfor controlling the supply of fuel to said motor, said governor including'governor' lever and operative connections be: I tween said governor and'said carburetor, a spring mounted in said governor for exert, inma pressure on said leven-andmeans operatively connecting said steering arm with and controlling the making a turn. c 9. The combination with a tractor, of an internal combustion engine mounted on said tractor, traction elements driven by said engins, steering HIQCliEIIIlSHI fQT steering the: tractor including a inanually operable hand. wheel, steeringar n, aucarburetor mounted on said; tractor for supplying fuel to said engine, a. governor mounted on said tractor speed of said tractor in and operatively connected to said-engine;

and; saidflcarburetor for controlling. the supply of fuel to sa d engine, said governor in; cluding a spr ng and operating lever forming part ofthe operative connection-between I i said carburetor and governor, a cam se I cured to said steering arm and operative connections between saidcam and the spring of said governor for synchronizingthe steering mechanism tor whereby the speed oflsa-id tractor is uniformly maintained when making a turn.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this Qndday I of July A. D, 1931. v a

' OSCAR I with the speed of said 1110- 

